KYOCERA Develops High-Speed, High-Resolution LED Printhead

The printhead incorporates a newly developed high-intensity 1200dpi LED chip, that at 150W (1mA drive current), produces four times more light than Kyocera's conventional models. This high-resolution printing is available at the world's fastest speed of 180m/min, with low power consumption. Theoretically, this means it is capable of printing more than 1,000 sheets of standard A4 size paper per minute. It also consumes just a quarter of the power of its predecessors operating at the same printing speed.

High-intensity LED chips provide the optimal light source for amorphous silicon photoreceptor drums*2 -- the key device in high-speed electrophotographic printers. Use of LEDs has eliminated memory image and sensitivity shortage -- problems that had to be overcome to allow for further improvements in printing speed -- leading to the successful development of high-speed, high-resolution LED printheads.

The product is scheduled to launch in April 2010. A package with the amorphous silicon photoreceptor drum for high-speed printing will be released at the same time.

Kyocera began supplying LED printheads for office document equipment in 1992. Starting with this industry leading product, the company will expand its business to the highly promising commercial printing market.

Kyocera will exhibit the product at the Japan Graphic Arts Show (JGAS) 2009 from October 6 (Tue.) - 10 (Sat.) at Tokyo Big Sight.

*(1) World's fastest electrophotographic printing speed, based on research by Kyocera as of October 1, 2009.

*(2) A photoreceptor drum is a photo conductor that revolves inside a printer and transfers toner to the paper. This device, previously a consumable item, has become a component with long service life due to Kyocera's use of amorphous silicon.

Product Outline
Product Name      SLH Series LED Printhead
Size              600x36x83 mm (Width x Depth x Height)
Production Site   Yohkaichi Plant (Shiga Prefecture, Japan)
Scheduled Launch  April 2010

For more information about Kyocera LED Printheads: http://global.kyocera.com/prdct/ios/led/

About KYOCERA

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971)(http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of solar power generating systems, telecommunications equipment, electronic components, laser printers, copiers, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2009, the company's net sales totaled 1.13 trillion yen (approximately US$11.5 billion). The company, which marks its 50th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations this year, is ranked #418 on Forbes magazine's 2009 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.

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SOURCE: Kyocera Corporation

KYOCERA Corporation (Japan) 
Akiko CHUJO, +81-(0)75-604-3416 
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